Centrifugal separator



R`. A.. STUHGEON.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY I5, 1919.

Patented June 21, 1921.

UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARA'IOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1921.

Application filed July 15, 1919. Serial No. 310,952.

To all 'whom t may concer/n:

Be it known that I, ROBERT ALEXANDER STUneEoN, a subject of the King of England, and a resident of Southsea, Portsmouth, in

England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Separators, of which the following is a specification.

-This invention relates to centrifugal machines of the kind in which separation and ejection of the solid substances is effected without stopping the machine.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine of the above type which will impart a higher degree of dryness to the solids than is obtainable by the use of purely centrifugal action.'v

According to this invention the centrifugal machine is provided with an annular 0 separating chamber at least one wall of which-preferably the inner wallis formed 'of some material through which water can filter or is erforated to constitute a strainer. .One end o the chamber and one lateral wall are movable axially relatively to the other side wall and end member in any known manner, as for instance by means of ressure produced in a liquid due to centri ugal force. Thus, after the solids have been thrown against the outer wall of the separating chamber by centrifugal action, the liquid in the 'annular chamber is forced through the perforated wall, which also preferably carries some filtering material, leaving the solids within the chamber where they are consolidated and subsequently ejected in the known manner by the movement of the end member.

Preferably the straining or filtering wall 40 is connected to, or actuated by the movement of the end member which effects compression of the contents of the annular chamber, the arrangement being such that initial movement of that member closes all free inlets to and outlets from the annular chamber so necessitating all further escape of liquid to take place through the strainer or filtering materlal.

A construction of apparatus according to this invention in which a piston movable inv an axial direction relatively to the separating cylinder, is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a vertical section showing the piston in its lowest position.

piston axially on the central shaft C. The cylinder has a cover A provided with a central fianged aperture A2, and normally held down by centrifugal weights Aa to close the upper end of the cylinder.

Mounted to slide upon the central shaft-C is a perforated disk or spider E carr in an inclined wall E', the lower end of w ic is flanged and has secured to it a perforated cylindrical member F. The upper end of the cylinder F is supported in the flanged aperture A2 which thus constitutes a guide and the piston B is connected to the disk E by bolts such as B the Shanks of which can freely slide in the apertures in the disk through which they pass.

The untreated li uid is introduced through the annular inlet and passing through the openings in the disk E enters the separating chamber through the gap between the face of the piston B and the lower edge of the cylinder F. Stops G mounted on inlet member G limit the downward movement of disk E, and insure that there is a gap between the lower edge of the disk and the piston, when the disk is in its lowest position. Thus an annular separating chamber is formed by the cylinder A, piston B, cover A and inner perforated wall F, a number of free outlet openings F being formed in the upper end of the latter and the remaining portions of the cylinder F carrying some suitable strainin or filtering material F2.

The liquid which is employed to produce the axial movement of thepisto'n B is introduced through the pipe and valves H below the piston are opened in the known manner by the movement of the cover A when the solid matter has been ejected.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The untreated liquid, carrying in suspension the solids to be separated, is admitted through the annular inlet G and enters the annular chamber through the gap between ,the lower ed e of the wall F and face of the piston B. entrifugal action throws the solid matter-against the wall of the cylinder rea F'.

After a predetermined quantity of liquid has been treated in this manner, the supply through the inlet G is cut off by hand or automatically. Li uid is then admitted thlrqugh the pipe to the underside of the piston B, the initial movement of the piston 1n an axial direction first closing the gap between its face and the lower edge of the cylinder F and thus preventing escape of liquids or solids from the base of the annular chamber. Further axial movement ofthe piston will now raise the disk E and the inner perforated wall F with it, thus closing v.

the free outlets F for the liquid and compelling any further liquid discharged from the solid matter by centrifugal action or as a result of the consolidation of the solid matter by the piston, to pass through the filtering material before escaping through the central aperture A2 in the cover.

The piston B and the perforated wall F will continue to rise, under the pressure of the liquid ad-mitted through the pipe I-I which may be p-roduced by centrifugal force until the cover A' is eventually lifted, whereupon the solids are ejected,` in the known manner and the valves H opened to release the pressure below the piston. Further untreated liquid is then admitted at G and the cycle of operations repeated.

Although in the preferred construction above described the inner wall is perforated, it is to be understood that without departing from this invention some other wall or walls of the annular chamber may constitute a strainer or filter. For instance as shown in Fig. 3 perforations, with or Without filtering material, F3 may be provided in the cover A4 through which some of the moisture con tained in the solid matter, after the latter has been compressed by the rise of the piston, is able to escape prior to the cover as a whole lifting to permit the compressed solid matter to be discharged. Alternatively, or in addition to forming the inner or upper wall of the annular chamber as a strainer, holes may be formed in the outer wall of the chamber or in the piston itself, the moisture contained in the solid matter being permitted to escape through these holes during separation and during the rise of the piston by the compression of such solid matter as in the case already described. When the outer wall is perforated, the piston is operated by external means of any convenient kind, such as an additional piston and cylinder working on the same axis as the main cylinder, or yby means of suitable gearing. Further it will be appreciated that where the cylinder is moved relatively to the piston the strainer may be formed in the bottom wall of the chamber, the operation being as in the case already described.

In all cases the design of the straining or takes place may be composed of some porous material or merely constitute a strainer with or` without the addition of someY filtering material without departing4 from this invention.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a centrifugal separating machine the combination with a. rotary cylindrical chamber having one end adapted to be moved in an axial dlrection relatively to the other end and to the cylindrical wall, of an inner walll connected to one of the end members so as to form an annular separating chamber at least one wall of this annular chamber being formed to constitute a strainer as set forth.

2. In a centrifugal separating machine the combination with a rotary cylindrical chamber having one end wall adapted to be moved in an axial direction relatively to the other' end and to the outer cylindrical wall, of an inner cylindrical wall connected to one of the end wall-s and having perforations formed therein to constitute a strainer as set forth. y

3. In a centrifugal separating machine the combination with a rotary cylindrical chamber having one end adapted to be moved in an axialdirection relatively to the other end and to the outer cylindrical wall, of an inner cylindrical wall formed to constitute a strainer, connected to one of the end members so as to form an annular separating chamber and having outlet ports therein, means for admitting untreated liquid to the annular chamber andA means actuated by the axial movement of one end member to close said outlets and cut olf the supply of liquid to the annular chamber when straining is to take lace.

4:. n a centrifugal separating machine the combination with a rotary cylindrical chamber having an end wall of a piston therein of one end Wall to close the inlet and outlet ports when straining is to take place.

5. In a centr' igal separating machine the combination With a rotary cylindrical chamber of a piston movable axially therein, an inner cylindrical Wall forming an annular separating chamber connected to said piston and provided with inlet and ou-tlet ports at least one Wall of the annular chamber being formed to act as a strainer, .and means actuated by the axial movement of the pistonl to close the inlet and outlet ports when straining is to commence.

6. In a centrifugal separating machine the combination with a rotary cylindrical chamber of a piston movable axially therein, an inner cylindrical Wall forming an annular separating chamber connected to said piston and having inlet and outlet ports therein, the inner Wall being so formed as to constitute a' strainer, and means actuated by the axial movement of the piston to close the ports in the annular chamber when strainin is to take place.

I. In a centrifugal separating machine the combination with an annular rotary separating chamber having at least one of its Walls formed to constitute a strainer of means for admitting liquid to said chamber, and means for moving one cylindrical and one end Wall relatively to the other cylindrical and other end Wall while the chamber is rotated.

8. In a centrifugal separating machine the combination with a rotary cylindrical chamber of a piston movable axially therein by the pressure produced in .a liquid due to centrifugal force, an inner cylindrical Wall forming an annular separating chamber connected to said piston. this Walll having liquid inlet and outlet openings therein and also being permeable to liquid, means carried by said Wall for filtering the liquid therethrough and means actuated by the axial movement of the pisto-n to close the inlet and outlet ports of the annular chamber when straining is to take place through the iilterin material.

n testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ROBERT ALEXANDER STURGEON. 

